A comparative study of serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK) activity in rabbits, pigs and humans after intramuscular injection of local damaging drugs.

Serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK) activity has been determined before and after intramuscular injection of lidocaine, diazepam or saline in humans and lidocaine, diazepam, digoxin and saline in pigs and rabbits. Two ml volum of each of the drugs was given to humans as well as to the experimental animals. No changes in CPK activity were found after saline in humans or rabbits but a minor increase was demonstrated in pigs. A marked increase of CPK activity was demonstrated after lidocaine or diazepam in humans and after lidocaine, diazepam or digoxin in pigs and rabbits. Post mortem examination of the injection sites in the animals revealed extensive muscle tissue necrosis after lidocaine, diazepam and digoxin. No damage of the tissue was found after saline. CPK activity was also determined in rabbits receiving 2 ml of dilutions of diazepam in saline. The injection sites were examined post mortem. The CPK activity was increased in animals receiving 1:2 and 1:8 dilutions while a 1:20 dilution did not give rise to changes in the enzyme activity. The necrotic area diminished when diazepam was diluted and no pathological changes were found at the injection sites after the 1:20 dilution. Measuring the CPK activity in rabbits after an intramuscular injection seems to be a sensitive method for the determination of local toxicity.